Beauty Must-Haves for Your 30’s and Beyond

Posted by Gin Mabey on Oct 02, 2019

Beauty Must-Haves for Your 30’s and Beyond

Are you in your 30s? Are you nearing the end of your 20s and can see 30 beckoning you from the near distance? If you’re entering or are in your early 30’s and you want a no BS list of beauty staples you should have in your everyday rotation, here’s our two cents!

Hyaluronic Acid Serum

Dry, tight and dehydrated skin is uncomfortable. It makes makeup sit oddly, and alerts us to our accelerating years. Even those who had oily skin in their teens and 20s will most likely start to experience the pinch of dryness once 30 starts.

A hyaluronic acid product is the first step to take. Hyaluronic acid is already hanging out in our skin, but the levels drop as we age (and/or spend too much time in the sun!).

Hyaluronic acid basically attracts water, and holds it tight, plumping and hydrating your skin. It doesn’t simply sit as a layer of moisture on top of the skin, it feeds the skin and leaves you feeling juicy and comfortable. The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid ($10.90) is an affordable and effective option. Use it day and night, before your day and night creams.

You’ll feel the difference, I promise you.

Facial Oil

For those of us who are getting more dry and duller by the day, facial oil is a lifesaver. My favorite is rosehip oil, as it makes me glowy and hydrated without any harsh fragrances to bug or irritate me. I love The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rosehip Seed Oil ($16.90).

Apply a few drops of face-friendly oil at night with your skincare routine and feel those glorious fatty acids working their magic. Oils help to hydrate, balance sebum production, reduce fine lines and even soothe UV damage. Go to Sephora and try out all those uber fancy, pretty and luxe facial oils to get a feel for them (literally). Spring for a high-end,

comprehensive blend, or go for the cheaper yet just as effective pure options such as the rosehip above.

Night Cream

Our 30’s skin is losing collagen, moisture and general plumpness. Our usual, lightweight daily moisturizer won’t cut it at night any more. We need something richer and more nourishing to get our skin through that phase of sleep where our skin repairs, and becomes a little dehydrated at the same time.

Find a night cream to suit your skin type (dry, oily, combo). Look for something with anti- aging ingredients such as collagen, retinol and vitamin C. Once you’ve layered up your hyaluronic acid, facial oil and night cream, you’ll be glowin’ like a torch, but by morning you’ll be radiant AF (did I just say “AF”?. I can’t quite pull it off, can I?).

Sunscreen

It goes without saying (but I’m saying it anyway) that you need to keep up a daily sunscreen routine. Your face will thank you later. I understand that many people struggle with sunscreens and breakouts, so it may take a little trial and error to find the right one. If worse comes to worst? Wear a hat. Always.

Matching concealer

A creamy concealer which matches your skin tone perfectly is crucial. Even out the skin tone, hide the evidence of tired eyes, and dab those pregnancy/hormone-induced breakouts.

Ditch the super pale undereye concealers and go for a perfect match instead. Find something longwearing yet moisturizing to give your skin a natural, satin effect which won’t crumble and flake as the day goes by. My favorite is the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer ($30), not very original I know, but a classic is a classic.

Lip balm with SPF

I know many people in their 30s who have had to take immediate action to protect their lips against a high risk of skin cancer. I’m telling you, it’s not a nice prospect having to use a painful cream to remove early traces of skin cancer, but it does happen.

The lips are soft and slightly protruding, leaving them open to sun damage. Plus, we’re often eating, drinking (and kissing, if you’re lucky!) which means any residual sunscreen doesn’t last long. For this reason, we need to apply an SPF lip balm at all times when exposed to the sun. Keep those lips protected. My go-to is the affordable and awesome Burt’s Bees All Weather SPF 15 Moisturizing Lip Balm ($4.39)

Everyday Lip Color

Find that go-to color which you can rely on to look and feel great with any look, full glam or barely there. My current favorite is the LiveGlam September Kiss Me Collection in 1st Class when I want an opaque color. Customize your coverage by dabbing a little color onto the lip then top with SPF lip balm.

Longwear Cream Eyeshadow

Creating an eye look with multiple powder shadows is fun, but not always possible on busy mornings. The best answer is to pat a longwear cream eyeshadow with a little sheen onto the lid, smudge liner into the lash line then apply mascara.

Cream eyeshadow with a longwear formula adds dimension and soft gleam to the eye with minimal effort, and it won’t smudge or migrate during the day. The good old Maybelline Color Tattoo Longwear Cream Eyeshadow ($7.99) is my favourite. You can also take a little short brush and run it along the lower lash line too.

Hydrating Facial Spray

We want hydration and a glowy complexion all day long, but we don’t always have time. The answer is a hydrating spray which you can spritz on morning, evening and in between. I’ve raved about it here before, and I’ll do it again now…Mario Badescu Facial Spray ($7). Use it to add extra hydration and nourishment at bedtime, in the morning, under and over makeup, and during the day when you feel dullness set it. It’s also a lifesaver the day after a few too many mojitos.

All-purpose balm

Lips, heels, elbows, knees, hands…what do they have in common? They get dry…especially as we get a little older. An all-purpose balm which is made for ultra hydration and nourishment is a must-have. My go-to is the Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream Skin Protectant ($24). I also use it as highlight to give my cheeks, nose and brow bones a glossy sheen without a trace of shimmer or glitter.

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Gin Mabey

Gin is a beauty enthusiast with a passion for makeup she's had since kindergarten when she would raid her Mum's makeup drawer. When she's not playing with new products and writing about makeup, she's a theatre actress, director and producer.

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